On 24 October 1864, the Wycombe Railway opened an extension of its single track line to Thame to Kennington junction, just to the south of Oxford.

In an attempt to stimulate Oxford suburban traffic, the Great Western Railway opened three motor halts on the line, one of which was to be situated to the south of Horspath Tunnel.

[9] During the Second World War, the local Home Guard cut slits through the corrugated iron shelter so that, in the event of invasion, it might serve as a sort of pillbox.

The track between Thame and Morris Cowley was lifted in 1969,[11] the allegedly deteriorating condition of Horspath Tunnel playing a large part in the decision.

The line from here to Kennington Junction is used by car-carrying trains from the BMW Mini plant (see Morris Cowley railway station).